Category: Fashion/Beauty

The pink ribbon is one of the most recognizable images for breast cancer awareness. Being that we’re in the middle of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we’d dive deeper into the story behind the iconic image now featured on everything from print advertisements to kitchen appliances to jewelry to football fields.

Let’s go back to 1979, when the first use of a ribbon was used publicly to raise awareness for a cause. Penney Laingen tied yellow ribbons around trees in her yard to signal to her a husband, a hostage taken in Iran, to come home. Actor Jeremy Irons then wore a red ribbon during the Tony Awards to raise awareness for AIDS. In fact, TheNew York Times declared 1992 “The Year of the Ribbon” when almost every charitable cause adopted a ribbon.

It was Charlotte Haley, a breast cancer survivor, who created the original breast cancer ribbon in 1991. Except, it wasn’t pink. Haley hand made peach ribbons and attached them to a postcard reading, “The National Cancer Institute’s annual budget is 1.8 billion, only 5 percent goes for cancer prevention. Help us wake up legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.” Girl boss much? You bet!

Charlotte Haley, the creator of the “original” pink ribbon (except hers was peach).

So now you’re wondering—how did this peach ribbon become pink? Self had heard of Haley’s efforts (she had distributed thousands of ribbons) and approached her about using the image in their second annual Breast Cancer Awareness issue. Marketing executives Alexandra Penney and then editor-in-chief, Evelyn Lauder saw major potential in branding this image. Haley, however, thought their idea was too corporate and turned it down. Self’s legal counsel advised that if they changed the color, they wouldn’t need Haley’s approval to use her idea. So, they changed it to that soft pretty pink we now associate with breast cancer awareness.

The bubble gum pink ribbons were then given to participants in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s New York City Race for the Cure and were distributed at Estée Lauder counters. Along with the 1.5 million ribbons Estée Lauder gave out, there was also a breast self-exam card, and every person who took a ribbon had their name on a petition that got sent to the White House to ask for an increase in funding for breast cancer research.

Always waiting until the last minute to figure out your Halloween costume? Ever end up staying in and eating endless servings of candy instead of going out because you’re too wiped to put a creative outfit together? (Hint: that is always me.) While we love the idea of watching scary movies with our besties and digging into Hershey Kisses instead of standing in a crowded apartment party drinking jungle juice, we’re all about embracing Halloween this year and have perfect pink costumes to recommend that are creative and easy!

Pink Animal Cracker:

We saw this one on Brit + Co and are completely obsessed! Simply buy an inexpensive pink dress like this one from Lulu’s and glue on big multi-colored poms. Pick up a pair of animal ears (or dig out from last year’s costume—no judgment here), and spray-paint them pink and glue on more poms. Bring the costume to the next level and carry a tub of pink animal crackers around with you as a snack for you and your friends.

Mean Girls on Wednesday:

Looking to dress up with your squad this year but don’t want to shop? We’ve got you so covered. Grab an old pink cardigan, mini skirt, tank, and put a full face of makeup on and your highest heels and be the cast of Mean Girls on Wednesday. Or, be Cady Heron and steal one of your dad’s pink polo shirts and wear with your favorite jeans and sneakers. With the recent announcement of Mean Girls on Broadway, this costume idea is so fetch!

Starbucks Pink Drink:

From the unicorn drink to pumpkin spice-everything, why doesn’t anyone go to Starbucks for black coffee anymore?! If you bought into the “pink drink” fad (hint: it’s their strawberry acai refresher made with coconut milk), consider using it as inspiration for your Halloween attire. Wear a pink dress and tape the Starbucks logo on your chest and paint on scattered strawberries. Wear a green headband (or green tights!) to replicate the branded straw and you’re all set!

What other pink Halloween costume ideas do you have?! Let us know in the comments section!

At Pinkly Perfect, we’re proud of our unique, pink sense of style. But pink isn’t just for people! Now, your dog, cat, bunny, or bird can be just as pretty in pink as you are – and did we mention that everything on our list is under $15?

Protected from the rain and super stylish! Photo from Amazon. Link to get yours above!

Going for a walk in the rain? While we can’t make it warmer in the winter or stop Bruiser from having to go out at 4:00 in the morning, we can put an end to chasing your pup around the house with a towel afterwards. Bonus: Bruiser will be the talk of the neighborhood – have you seen how cute this raincoat is?!

Boy or girl, doesn’t matter! All pups would look so adorable in this pink puppy harness. Photo from Chewy. Link above to get yours!

A good harness is a must for any pet owner, and this pink one is not only chic, but it’s also a great way to keep track of Toto at the dog park! “Mine’s the one in pink!” works every time. (Don’t worry, it comes in all sizes, so even if your Toto is more of a Marmaduke, there’s one for him, too.)

100% natural dog treats with no wheat or corn in the cutest pink box we’ve ever seen for less than $10? We’d say it’s a no brainer… Unless your Lady or Tramp prefers spaghetti (then you’re on your own).

Whether your pet is Homeward Bound or just taking a stroll around the neighborhood, this travel container is perfect for on-the-go snacking. There are two separate compartments, one for food and/or treats and another for water, so you don’t have to carry around a separate water bottle on hot days. (P.S., the hard plastic is perfect for rhinestones!)

First semester is officially here! Whether you’re about to move in or not quite feeling your current setup, your dorm decor is a crucial factor in making this year the best ever. To help make your dorm insta-perfect, we’ve gathered our favorite pink comforters, pillows, alarm clocks, storage drawers, and more all in one place!

Cozy Comforters

A comforter is usually one of the first things you notice in a dorm (since your bed takes up most of your space), so picking one that stands out will do wonders for your room! Stripes, florals, and even a marble pattern or two are all great ways to instantly give your room a boost – check out some of our favorites below!

Pillows are perfect for giving your bed just the right amount of personality. Whether you’re looking for something minimalist or something over the top, these pretty-in-pink pillows are sure to please!

By now, you’ve found the perfect comforter and a pretty pillow (or two or three) to match. Done, right? Not quite! These pink bedside accessories are sure to make your Twin Extra Long feel just like a California King!

Is it just me or does everyone get a little slow moving (along with super bummed!) once summer ends? I know fall’s one of the best seasons for the beach (water is so warm in September!), but weekends at your favorite beach town are basically over and it’s harder and harder to justify a nightly ice cream cone. How are we supposed to be excited about that and be ready to jump right back into the routine of schoolwork and 5-day work weeks (or 7 if you’re a girl boss!). In order to go right from summer mode to slay mode, check out these must-haves to unleash the girl boss in you this off-season!

We (obviously) love the subtle palm tree addition to these pretty pink notecards! Get yours at minted.com.

No matter how many times you e-mail, insta DM, snap, or tweet your favorite people, there’s still nothing like receiving a hand written note in the mail. As a girl boss looking to make a serious impression and have her name be remembered, it is critical to get back into the habit of writing letters. After a meeting, a thank you note to a potential customer, when sending press sample, letter writing is perfect for so many occasions! Have a personalized (and pink) set on hand and make it part of your routine. Don’t forget pink stamps!

A business card holder is a must-have this fall. Pick up a pink leather one at Amazon.com.

A true girl boss never misses an opportunity to network. Ever get asked for your business card and realize you’re not carrying any with you? Yeah, us too but never again with this pink leather business card holder. At only $13.83, it’s an absolutely necessary “don’t leave your house without” item because you never know when the best opportunity will come knocking at your door!

Is work your happy place? Maybe not. But this leather keychain will save you major time searching your purse for your keys!

Time is of the essence when you’re constantly jumping from one meeting to the next and even a couple minutes of searching for your keys can really disrupt your groove. To save time (and sanity), place your keys on an easy to find keychain, like Pinkly Perfect’s “Happy Place” in petal pink. Made in the USA, real leather, and only $18—perfect!

Business on the top, party on the bottom?! We think so. Lovely notebook from ban.do.

In a world where you can do literally everything from your phone, taking meeting notes should not be one of those things. I get it—it’s super easy and then there’s no chance of losing information but from the other person’s perspective, it’s slightly rude. Think about it–there’s no way for anyone to know you’re taking notes or writing out your grocery list. Instead, buy a small notebook and pen that can fit in any of your purses and keep it on you for surprise meetings. We love the simplicity of ban.do’s pink 5” x 8” notebook. It’s only $10 and features an elastic band to keep any loose papers safe too!

While summer may be “ending,” we at Pinkly Perfect genuinely believe the best beach days are ahead of us! There’s still two weeks left before LDW and September is the shore’s best kept secret. The beaches are quiet, the water is warm, and it’s not boiling hot anymore. If you’re planning on soaking up the sun as much as we are, make sure your beach bag is stocked with all the necessities to maximize your beach day. Check out our “beach bag must-haves” below!

Maybe you’re more careful than I am but whenever I forgo a smaller bag and simply toss my valuables straight into my beach bag, they end up all sunscreen-sticky and full of sand. To prevent this mess and the chance of wondering if your phone’s still receiving texts, make sure you pack a Newport Cosmetic Bag to store all your important stuff.

Let’s face it. We love getting our natural summer highlights but we know how beach days really mess up our hair. If you’re hoping your blowout will last you all weekend, make sure you pack some invisibobble, the original traceless hair ring. Available in every color imaginable (we prefer pink!), this telephone cord shaped hair ring will evenly distribute pressure along the hair, thus preventing a hair crease, headache, and even split ends!

Sun block is a beach girl’s best friend. While getting tan is certainly always a summer goal of ours, getting sunburn is definitely not. Prevent going back to school with blistering, peeling skin and reapply sunscreen every couple hours. Our pick is Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen, which will help prevent breakouts too!

Summer may be all about tropical vacations, beach weekends, and a break from school, but between a demanding summer job, never ending reading assignments (scrolling through People’s basically the same thing as reading Shakespeare, right?), and those pesky back-to-school commercials, it’s easy to spend all night tossing and turning with stress.

Not only does not getting your recommended 8-10 hours of peaceful beauty rest make you cranky, but it also does terrible things to your health. Who wants to serve pancakes to screaming children all morning on less than 5 hours of sleep? Or not have enough energy to take an afternoon walk on the beach? A lack of sleep also tremendously slows down our metabolism, which makes indulging in a daily ice cream cone even more dangerous to our beach bods. No, thank you.

Below we’ve listed some tips to help achieve some beautiful Zzzzs this summer.

A Comfortable Mattress:

The most important part of getting a great night’s sleep is a comfortable mattress. While some of you like to feel as though you’re sleeping on a cloud of boardwalk cotton candy, others may prefer a no-nonsense mattress. Whatever you prefer, we recommend Leesa mattresses for the best quality sleep. With distinct layers that provide everything from a firm mattress base to a memory foam to a cooling foam, you’re basically guaranteed some much needed Zzzs. They also provide a 100-night risk free trial. Perfect!

Leesa mattresses are essential for maximizing your beauty rest!

A Nightly Routine:

Ever find yourself watching hours of Bravo reruns or casually making a couple bonus trips to the kitchen for late night snacking? Of course we do too but we’ve found sticking to a routine at night really helps us get the rest we need prior to falling asleep.

Nothing better than soothing and moisturizing our skin to get us nice and relaxed before bedtime!

Pinkly Perfect’s Avalon Sweatshirts are perfect for cozying up with a beach book before falling asleep.

If getting your recommended 8 hours means you have to be asleep by 11, don’t wait until 10:55 to get under the covers. Hop into bed at 10:30 and curl up with a beach book, not your cell phone. In fact, turn your phone on silent. Chances are you’ll fall asleep naturally from reading and not even remember falling asleep, but if you’re still awake by 10:50, close the book, turn off the light, and relax. Before you know it, you’ll be happily sipping your first cup of coffee while getting ready for another beautiful day!

What do you do to get in the Zzzone? Tell us your tips in the comment section!

If you’ve been busy at the beach this summer and find yourself craving some retail therapy, make sure you check out Pinkly Perfect’s latest arrivals. From new styles to new colors, they’re your perfect old faves reimagined and enhanced for a new pop of beachy fun! Check them out below:

Our Tybee Tiny Tote is our newest style addition for Pinkly Perfect and we are so in love with it! It’s the same size as our Newport Cosmetic Bag but instead of a zipper, we’ve added short shoulder straps. Same natural cotton feel as our larger Montauk Tote and made in the USA, it’s a perfect gift for the littlest beach babe!

Our Montauk Tote (AKA the best beach bag EVER) now featured in our “Take me to the beach” version, available in lilac, coral, or a shimmery indigo. Buy the classic version at pinklyperfect.com or shop the #Avalon and #CapeMay versions at Serendipity Shops of Avalon in Avalon, NJ and Pete Smith’s Surf Shop in Cape May, NJ.

NEW summery colors for our best selling bracelets! Our Sea Isle 08243 Zip Code Bracelet and Ocean City 08226 Zip Code Bracelet are now available in Clearwater Blue, Grape, and Peach. We love mixing & matching these to pair perfectly with our summer glow and breezy outfits! Buy one of each and gift to your Jersey Shore besties as the coolest “friendship bracelet” this summer.

Summer is flying by! If you’ve been wanting to soak up some major sun, now is your chance. School’s out, summer ice cream scoopin’ money is flowing in, and all the red, white, and blue (and pink?!) decorations and party tips are officially taking over our Pinterest boards.

Whether you’re packing up the car and cruising down the parkway to your beach town of choice, or printing out a boarding pass to escape to a real tropical getaway with your favorite beach besties, make sure you take a peek at our travel must-haves.

First thing you’ll need is a large carry-on that can hold your essentials for both the trip and the first day or two of vacation if you’re waiting on luggage. We love our Montauk Tote because it can be your carry-on and your beach bag. It’s large enough to fit your laptop, makeup bag, beach towel, book, and an outfit or two.

Beat that parkway traffic and head out late Friday night! Trade turns with your besties so each of you can sleep for a bit on the way down and be wide awake to hit the beach first thing in the morning! This sleep mask is perfect to get in the ZZzzone and also look super cute.

After a long flight and hours of off-and-on sleep, make sure you have plenty of gum to freshen up before heading out! We are so obsessed with Spry Dental Defense Gum. It’s made with 100% Xylitol, natural ingredients, and has proven effects to improve oral health when used daily. No toothbrush in your carry-on? No problem! We love the classic bubble gum flavor, but try out their more creative flavors like green tea, fresh fruit, cinnamon, and licorice.

If you tend to experience sinus pain while traveling, make sure you pack Xlear natural saline nasal spray. This spray offers fast relief to keep you beach bound all vacation long. And if you don’t like it (highly doubtful)? Return for a full refund! Perfect.

Whether you live by the seashore, vacation at the beach, or simply just love all things summer, it’s always fun to snag some beach inspired décor for your home.

There are so many beach inspired brands that sometimes finding the perfect pieces to add a nautical touch to your home can be daunting. We recently discovered Bella Coastal Décor, an Oklahoma-based company that sells everything from lamps to dish towels to bedding that can fit perfectly in a shore house! Below are our (pink) picks:

If you’re planning on hosting a party this summer, check out these ceramic pink and white bowls with cute octopus design. They’re affordable and adorable! Plus dishwasher and microwave safe, making cleanup an (ocean) breeze!

These embroidered flamingo cotton towels are perfect for guests (or yourself) this summer! They’re 14” x 22” and add a perfect tropical touch to your bathroom or kitchen. Use them during a flamingo-themed party!

Transport yourself to a seaside oasis with this beautiful canvas art featuring pink chairs on a sunny ocean dock. UV-lacquer treated canvas means you can hang this inside or outside. Also includes special mounting hardware that can withstand harsh winds.

All product photos taken from http://www.bellacoastaldecor.com/, main photo from Shutterstock.